Blower wheel and method of making



March 22, 1960 c. A. HATHAWAY ETAL 2,929,549

BLOWER WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed 0G13. 25, 1954 /N VEN TOCHA'QLES A. HA THAWAV STEPHEN IM KLONOS K/ iev v'r 0 RNEV BLOWER WHEELAND METHGD F MAKING Sharles A. Hathaway, Litchfield, and Stephen W.Klonoski, Torrington, Conn., assignors to The Torrington ManufacturingCompany, Torrington, Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut Applicationctober 25, 1954, Serial No. 464,398

Claims. (Cl. 230-134) The invention relates to a blower wheel of thetype wherein there is an annular series of longitudinal air movingblades and wherein there is a genera ly radial supporting structureengaging the blades between the ends thereof to connect them with acentral hub or hub means.

One robject of the invention is to provide a simple, dependable andinexpensive connection between the radial supporting structure and theblades for holding the blades in fixed relationship with each other andwith the said supporting structure. Another object of the invention isto provide a method for assembling the above-mentioned connectionbetween the supporting structure and the blades.

In the drawing we have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of thestructural features of the invention and a preferred method of makingthe same, but it will be understood that various changes may be madefrom the construction and the method shown, and that the drawing is notto be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, theclaims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a blower wheelembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional along the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top View of the two discs of theradial supporting structure'prior to the assembly of the bladestherewith.

Fig. 5 is a view which is somewhat similar to Fig. 4 but which is insection along the line A5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a blank for one of theblades.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the tongue of the bladeblank twisted.

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the blade blank as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view generally similar toFig. 6 but taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. l1.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and taken along the line 11-11 ofFig. l0, this view showing the tongues of the blades preliminarily inplace.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the partsfully engaged.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the partsfully engaged, this view being taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. l2.

Fig. 14 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 13 but taken along the line14-14 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 12 but taken alongthe line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawing, the blower wheel as illustrated view takennited States Patent r1ice includes a hub means which is shown ascomprising two separate simiar hubs 10 and 12. When the hub meanscomprises two hubs such as l0 and 12, the two hubs are in longitudinalregister'with each other and are rotatable about the same longitudinalaxis. They are adapted for mounting on a rotatable shaft and as shownset screws 14 and 16 are provided for connecting the hubs with theshaft. A radial blade supporting structure is connected with the hubmeans, this structure including at least one generally radial supportingdisc 18 which has its inner portion rigidly connected with the hubmeans. Preferably and as shown, the said structure includes two generaly similar discs 18 and 20 rigidly connected respectively with the twohubs 10 and 12. The discs 18 and 20 are connected with each other neartheir peripheries as for instance by spot welding, as indicated at 22,22. The discs 1% and 2t? are preferably partly conical in shape so thatthe hubs 1t) and 12 are spaced apart longitudinally and so that theportions of the discs adjacent the hubs converge toward their connectedperipheral portions. One or more drain holes such as 24, 24 ymay beprovided in at least one of the discs to permit the escape of waterwhich might otherwise accumulate in thespace between the discs.

At least one of the discs, for instance the disc 18, is slashed near itsperiphery to form an annular series of equally spaced circularlyextending portions 26, 26 which are integral with the main body of thedisc. The said portions 26, 26 are separated from the main body bycircularly extending slashes and the said portions are initially archeswhich are longitudinally offset from the said'main body so as to providean annular series of equally spaced radial openings 28, 2S between thesaid arches and the said main body. The arched portions 26, 26 arepreferably tl-shaped as shown. The radial openings 28, 28 are best shownin Fig. 4 and it will be seen that the said arches 26, 26 constitute theouter walls of the said radial openings. When the arched portions 26, 26are V-shaped as is preferred, the openings 28, 2S are substantiallytriangular-in crosssection; The said portions or arches 26, 26 arepreferably spaced inwardly from the periphery of the corresponding disc,as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and Y6. The portions or arches 26, 26 areformed by slashing or lancing the metal of the disc, thus providingapertures 3l! behind the corresponding arches as best shown in Figs. 6and l0.

Preferably, as best shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the metal of the disc 18 isalso initially formed with arched portions or arches 32, 32 and 34, 34which project in the direction opposite the direction of projection ofthe arches 2,6, 26. The arches 32, 32 are respectively adjacent theradially outward sides of the openings 30 and the arches 34, 34 arerespectively adjacent the radialy inward sides of the said openings 39and in radial alignment with the arches 32, 32. The arches 32, 32 and34, 34, when provided, Vconstitute the inner walls of the radialopenings 2S, 28. For convenience of description the said arches 32, 32and 34, 34 will be considered as included in the main body of the disc1S.

When there are two discs, such as 1S and 2l), the second disc 29 ispreferably notched at 35, 35 to provide clearances for the arches 32, 32and 34, 34 of the disc 18,

the said disc 2d having portions 36, 36 which are between adjacent pairsof the last said arches. The disc 18 and its connected hub serve,preferably in cooperation with the disc 2d, as an initial centralsupport structure for the blower wheel, this central structuresupporting the blades of the blower wheel as hereinafter explained.

The blower wheel includes an annular series of equally spacedlongitudinal air moving blades 38, 38, the saidV series being concentricwith the blower wheel axis and the jhas a notch 50 therein.

.2,929,549 Y f n 9 for connectingythenrwith each other,ithesemeans beingshownoa's being two similar end rings 40 and,42, VThedetails-.Yof'connectionbetween the blades andthe end rings maybefinaccordancevwith conventional practice and do Vnot constitute any partYofthe present invention.

The. blades 38, .38 arejapreferably formed from sheet metal andthey areprovided respectively with integral tongues-44,144'\vhichV extendgenerally inwardly there from and lperpendicularly thereto near thecentersthereof, oneftongue being shown inrdetail in Figs.l 7, 8 and 9.Each blade 38 with its integral tongue 44 constitutes a sheetrrnetalblade` element. The tongue projects perpendicularly tozthe main portionofthe blade element. Fig. 7 shows the tongue 44 partly separated fromthe bodyof the blade by slashes 46,46 and ready for forming andtwisting.:V -Figs.. 8 and 9 showfth'etongue 44 bent or folded along.aline longitudinal of the tongue to provide two parts .inangulatedrelationship to'reachyothenvthe tongue Y having the cross sectionalshape more clearly shown in Fig. Y97.-;fll`he'tongue 44 is twisted atthe area48 immediately adjacent the mainbodyn of Vtheblade so, thatjitis Y Y at an angle of 96 to saidmain body.

For economy of manufacture, the tongue 44 Yon one f blade may comprisemetal which would otherwisev be i a part of another blade,'the-fresultbeing 'that each blade However, the provision ofV notches,vsuch as 50,is not an essentialpart of the invention. r v

' During assembly,y thetonguesr44, 44 on the several blades` 38, 38 areinsertedV inthe initially providedradial open1ngs28,.28 in thecentralsupport structure, the open- .ings being.ofsuchsize as to receive theshaped tonguesr with arnpleclearance, asfvshown in Figs.Y l0 andrll.

When the blades have been assembled with their tongues 44, 44;in V theopenings 28, 218, asfshown in Figs. lO and 171, and when the blades havebeen connected with the end rings and 42, thearches 26, 26 are pressedlongitudi. Y. nally toforce them toward the main body ofzthe disc andinto .rnr engagement with theV corresponding tongues 44,

44, Vthe blades 343, 38 beingthusfirmly held inxedrelaf tionshipY totherdisc 18.

Preferably, the arches-26 26 of-the disc18 are pressed vyithsuch'forcelthat vthe central-area .thereof is substantially or completelyattened, as shown in Fig. l2. VSaid .portions 426,. 26 that have`beendescribed asarches'are nowattenedzto VVconstitutecircularlyextendingHat port1on sk 26-,r. 26e.; Atjhe sametme the arches 32, 32and .34,Y 34arepartially flattened as showninV Figs. `12 .to V15. The .atteningwof.the arches ,26,g 26 Y,serves `to also vflatten theton'gues Y44,444. Y.Thejwidth of vthe triangular opening between each .arch 26` and thecorresponding arches 32 Y and l3:4 is slightly-less rthanthe-widthof-theattened tongue '44, Therefore,1during the flattening ofeach tongue, its

edges pressagainst and distortfthe'walls of the correspending radialopening. VThe described distortion result'- ing-from the flattening ofthe tongue insures a rrn engage` ment of said tongue `with the disc 18.Y Theengaged. portion of each tongue44 is preferably also shifted oroiset'so that .the outer face of the tongue i approximately registerswith theinner face of the main bodyofthedisc 18, asrshown in Figs.` 13and lll'.A This additionally. servesV to Vholdthe blade infirmfengagementf A Figs.. 13 andV 14, the-ar ches32, 32 ,and34, 34 ofthe disc'.

18and the portionsl36,.,36ofof thediscQZ being held by acoopeatingjanvil B of the said press. l Theengagernentof press permitthe engaged portions of'the tongues to be shifted as described.

Preferably the. plunger A has an annular portion somewhat narrower thanthe arches 26, 26. As the'said arches are flattened to become the saidcircularly extending por- The said outer and inner edges are curved asshown as the result of their engagement with the offset tongues. vTheengaged-portion of each tongue 44 also engages the inner and outer edgesof the arches 32 and 34, as also shown in Fig. 13.v As 'the result ofthe distortion under pressure, the openings 28, 28 are partiallyr'closedbut they remain'generally'radial with the .tongues 44, 44 therein.. Thedescribedrelative olsetting of .portions of the. tongues positivelyprevents relative radial movement of the said tongues and the blades;VThus there is provided an `interlocking relationship between-the tongueand the disc. l

Inmaking Vthe blower-wheel the, discs 18 and`20 are connected with thehubs-10 andY 12 and the discs are connectedfwith each othenbywelding,'as previously described. Then the blades 38,138. areassembledwiththe disc'structure, .the tongues1`44, v44 on the bladesbeing inserted in the radial openings 28, 28,' aspreviously .described.The assembled parts are preferably Vheld temporarily ina suitableixtureso that the'annular series of blades is concentric with the axis of thehubs. Thereafter the end rings .40 and 42 are put in place so as toconnect the blades with each other and to hold thexnin theirproper'spaced relationship. Finally the arches26,

26 of the disc 1S Vare subjected to longitudinal pressure,

as previously described, so astoobe flattened and thereby lock the bladetongues inrxed relationship with the disc. After'th'e pressing operationtherparts can be removed from the fixture. Y

The invention claimedlisz 1. VIn a centrifugal blower wheel,the-combination of a hub meansrotatable abouta central longitudinal axisand adapted for mounting von a ,rotatableyshaf first and circularlyextending portionsjof said first disc, an annular series of equallyspaced longitudinal air moving blades adjacent theV peripheries of thediscs, means at the ends of thefblades `for connecting'them witheachother, and o a plurality of tongues respectively connected` with theseveral blades and extending generallyrinwardly therefrom nearthecenters thereofiand intoand through said generally radial openings,portions of said tongues being offset so as tobe positioned within thenotches of said second disc and so as to enter and litthe correspondingapertures Yin the .main body of-the iirst disc and said tongue portionsbeing engaged by thecorresponding circularly extending portions of saidtirstdiseso that the blades are iirmlyrconnected with thediscs. n V` Y YY 2. In a centrifugal.blower'wheel, thecombination of a hub `rotatableabout `a central" longitudinal` axis and adapted for mountingona,rotatablershafh a generally radial. supporting @behaving its...inxicrrqrtoairisilx .G011- assassinY nected with the hub, said dischaving near its periphery an annular series of equally spaced circularlyextending portions which are integral with the main body of the disc andwhich are separated therefrom by circularly extending slashes and saiddisc further having pairs of circularly extending arched portions whicharched portions of each pair are respectively adjacent the correspondingcircular slashes and are arched away from the said circularly extendingportions so as to provide an annular series of equally spaced generallyradial openings between the said circularly extending portions and saidarched portions, an annular series of equally spaced longitudinal airmoving blades adjacent the periphery of Vthe disc, means at the ends ofthe blades for connecting them with each other, and a plurality oftongues respectively connected with the several blades and extendinggenerally inwardly therefrom near the centers thereof, said tonguesrespectively extending into and fitting said generally radial openingsand thus serving to connect the blades with the disc.

3. In a centrifugal blower wheel, the combination of a hub meansrotatable about a central longitudinal axis and adapted for mounting ona rotatable shaft, iirst and second generally radial supporting discshaving their inner portions rigidly connected with the hub means, saiddiscs being connected with each other near their peripheries and saidrst disc having near its periphery an annular series of equally spacedcircularly extending portions which are integral with the main body ofthe dise and which are separated therefrom by circularly extendingslashes and said first disc further having pairs of circularly extendingarched portions which arched portions of each pair are respectivelyadjacent the corresponding circular slashes so as to provide an annularseries of equally spaced generally radial openings between the saidcircularly extending portions and said arched portions and said seconddisc having an annular series of equally spaced peripheral notches whichreceive said arched portions of said lirst disc, an annular series ofequally spaced longitudinal air moving blades adjacent the peripheriesof the discs, means at the ends of the blades for connecting them witheach other, and a plurality of tongues respectively connected with theseveral blades and extending generally inwardly therefrom near thecenters thereof and into and through said generally radial openings,portions of said tongues being otfset so as to be positioned within thenotches of said second disc and so as to enter and fit the correspondingapertures in the main body of the first disc and said tongue portionsbeing engaged by the corresponding circularly extending portions of saidiirst disc so that the blades are rmly connected with the discs.

4. An initial central support structure for a centrifugal blower wheelcomprising in combination a hub rotatable about a central longitudinalaxis and adapted for mounting on a rotatable shaft, and a generallyradial supporting disc having its inner portion rigidly connected withthe hub, said disc being formed near its periphery with an annularseries of equally spaced circularly extending portions which are archedin one direction and are integral with the main body of the disc andwhich are separated therefrom by circularly extending slashes and saiddisc being further formed with pairs of circularly extending archedportions with those of each pair respectively adjacent the correspondingcircular slashes which last said arched portions are arched in theopposite directions so as to provide an annular series of equally spacedgenerally radial openings between the first said arched portions andsecond said arched portions which radial openings are adapted forreceiving radial tongues on an annular series of blower wheel blades.

5. An initial central support structure for a centrifugal blower wheelas set forth in claim 4, wherein the rst said arched portions areV-shaped and wherein the radial openings are substantially triangular incross section.

6. An intial central support structure for a centrifugal blower wheel,comprising in combination a hub means rotatable about a centrallongitudinal axis and adapted for mounting on a rotatable shaft, and twosimilar generally radial iirst and second supporting discs having theirinner portions rigidly connected with the hub means, said first discbeing formed near its periphery with an annular series of equally spacedcircularly extending portions which are arched in one direction and areintegral with the main body of the disc and which are separatedtherefrom by circularly extending slashes and said dizo being furtherformed with pairs of circularly extending arched portions with those ofeach pair respectively adjacent the corresponding circular slashes whichlast said arched portions are arched in the opposite directions so as toprovide an annular series of equally spaced generally radial openingsbetween the first said arched portions and the second said archedportions which radial openings are adapted for receiving radial tongueson an annular series of blower wheel blades, and said second disc beingprovided with an annular series of equally spaced peripheral notchesinto which the second said arched portions of the rst disc extend. Y

7. The herein disclosed method for making a centrifugal blower Wheel,which method comprises providing a sheet metal supporting disc rotatableabout a central longitudinal axis, slashing the disc and shaping it toprovide an annular series of equally spaced circularly extendinginitially arched portions which are integral with the main body of thedisc and are longitudinally offset therefrom so as to provide an annularseries of equally spaced radial openings between said arched portionsand said main body, providing a plurality of similar air moving bladeshaving tongues projecting therefrom transversely of the lengths thereofeach of which tongues is folded'V to provide two parts in angulatedrelationship to each other and each of which tongues has a widthslightly less than the widths of a corresponding radial disc opening,longitudinally positioning the said blades in an annular seriessurrounding the disc and with their tongues extending generally inwardlyinto said radial openings, and longitudinally pressing the initiallyarched circularly extending portions o the disc to force them toward themain body of the disc and into engagement with the tongues on the bladesso as to flatten said tongues and thereby force the edges thereof intoiirm engagement with the walls of said radial openings.

8. rihe herein disclosed method for making a centrifugal blower wheel,which method comprises providing a sheet metal supporting disc rotatableabout a central longitudinal axis, slashing the disc and shaping it toprovide an annular series of equally spaced circularly extendinginitially arched portions which are integral with the main body of thedisc and are V-shaped and longitudinally odset from said main body so asto provide an annular series cf equally spaced radial openings which aresubstantially triangular and are between said vi-shaped arched portionsand said main body, providing a plurality of similar air moving bladeshaving tongues projecting therefrom transversely of the lengths thereofwhich tongues are folded to provide two parts at an angulatedrelationship to each other and which tongues are adapted to enter saidradial openings, longitudinally positioning the said blades in anannular series surround-` ing the disc and with their tongues extendinggenerally inwardly into and beyond the said radial openings with theangulated parts of the tongues parallel with and closely adjacent thesides of said V-shaped radial openings, and longitudinally pressing theinitially arched circularly extending portions of the disc to force themtoward the main body of the disc suiiiciently to engage the tongues onthe blades and to atten the engaged portions oftheA tongues andlto-offset said engaged portions from the portions thereof'that areinwardly beyondthe cirularly extending portions of the disc soas-toirmly holduthebladesinnxed relationship to. the disc.

.9. Thev herein disclosed method for making a centrifugalblower wheel,which method comprises providing a sheet metal supporting disc rotatableabout a central longitudinal axis, slashing said disc` and shaping it toprovide an annular series of equally spaced first circularly extending'larched Vportions which are integral with the main Vbody of ,the disc andfurther shaping said disc ito provide pairs of second circularlyextending arched portions with those of Fach pair respectively adjacentthe edges of` the corresponding rst arched portions which rstwand-secondarched portions project oppositely and provideflan annular series ofequally spaced radial openings, providing a plurality of similar airmoving blades having tongues projecting therefrom transversely of the 1lengths thereof, longitudinally positioning the said bladesanannularpseries surrounding the disc and with their tongues extendinggenerally inwardly into the said radial openings, and longitudinallypressing the arched portions of said kdisc to force them toward eachother and into rpnengagementvfwith the tongues on the blades so as t toiirmly hold theblades in 'xed relationship to the disc,

said/pressingbein'glsucient to completely flatten said i irst archedportionsand tol partially atten'said second arched portions.v j

10,;Thevhe`rein disclosed, method for (making a centrifugaliblowerwheel, which method comprises providing first` and second sheet metalsupporting discs rotatable about'a'central longitudinalaxis, slashingsaid lirst disc and shaping ittto provide an annular series Vof equallyspacedrst circularly extendingarched portions ywhich are integral withthe main body of the` discv and further.

shaping said ii'rst disc to providetpairsV ofsecond circularlyextendingarched. portions Ywith, those vof. each pair longitudinallypositioning the said` bladesvintan annular series surrounding the discand with their tongues extend-i ing generally inwardly into thesaidradialiopenings, and longitudinally pressing the arched portions of saidrst disc `to force them toward eachother andpintorm engagernent withthetongues on the blades so as to'rrnly hold the Vblades in fixedrelationship to ythe '.discsfsaid second arched portionsrof the iirstdisc remainingin the f openings of the second disc.v

References Cited in the tile of this patent.,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 27,115,357l Levy YV V Apr. 26, 193s 2;176,3,25,Bretzlat et al. Oct. 17, 1939 2,246,238 Bake1 A fApL 29J 1941 y FOREIGNPATnNrSVIV Y 19,251 Great Britain A V L-'.. of 1899 861,734Y Germany nJan, 5, 1953 ai s

